Warm winds from the Pacific are bringing milder temperatures to southeast Saskatchewan, as a chinook makes its way from Alberta into the region. This has the forecast calling for clear skies, little precipitation, and mild temperatures for the next few days.

Environment Canada’s Terri Lang explained there will be one little hiccup before the system gets here, though.

“We are looking for a weather system to move through tomorrow,” Lang explained. “Looks like in the afternoon the southeast corner will get some snow, also a risk of freezing rain there. We’re going to see some gusty winds coming along with that.”

While the amount of snow to fall won’t be a drastic measurement, Lang said with the temperatures being mild, the chance of freezing rain combined with high winds could mean some tricky driving conditions into the evening.

The warm-up has many thinking this is unusual for this time of year.

In fact, it is right along with what Weyburn has seen in recent years, with temperatures in four of the past five years being above normal in the second week of December. The timing of this warm-up is what makes a bit of a difference this time, according to Lang.

“Temperatures have actually been closer to seasonal, thirty-year averages, but we’re just, we’ve just been in kind of that slump so when it does get above freezing it feels quite warm and almost tropical,” she added.

After the warm weather associated with the chinook passes, Lang said the temperatures will continue on a bit of a roller coaster next week. There will be bouts of cold temperatures, followed by warm-ups, thanks to projected variations in the jet stream.

The formation of an El Nino in the south Pacific is also playing a role in what could be expected for the rest of the winter, as the system tends to bring warm and dry weather to Saskatchewan.

You can get the latest details on what to expect in our five-day forecast.